Key case



B. STILLER- March 9, 1943.

KEY CASE Filed April 30. 1941 //1///////:r//////// L n INVENTOR Ben .rl-I -I I- HHHHHM. www?- ]'amin Stiller BY` ATTORNEYS 7 Patented Mar. 9,1943 UNITED lSTATES PATENT .OFFICE KEY CASE Benjamin Stiller, Akron,Ohio Application April 30, 1941, Serial No. 391,123

3 Claims.

This invention relates to key cases and more particularly toimprovements in key cases formed of molded plastic composition such asrubber. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 232,412 led September 29, 1938.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved key case ofresilient shape-retaining composition material such as rubber which maybe integrally formed by a molding operation and which is complete initself without the addition of extra parts or pieces, and without theperformance of additional manufacturing or fabricating steps other thanthe usual trimming and nishing. As in the type of key case forming thesubject matter of my co-pending application referred to above, it is anobject of the present invention to provide an improved key case having akey receiving chamber for one or more keys and from which a single keyshank may be projected for use, or retracted into the case after use, bygravity.

Another object is to provide a key case of relatively thin and flat formmade in integral fashion of elastic flexible material and having akeyreceiving chamber defined by a pair of spacedapart side walls whichare normally disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect toone another and to the sides of a key in the chamber, and which sidewalls are connected by edge walls and are adapted to bow outwardly whenreleasing a key upon the application of pressure along the longitudinaledges of the side walls.

A further object is to provide in a key case of the character mentionedslots at opposite ends each of a greater length than the width of theShanks of keys to be accommodated in the case but of less length thanthe width of the heads of keys to be accommodated, so that in using akey carried by the case only the shank of the key is projected throughone of the slots while the head of the used key is retained within thecase by engagement with edge wall portions of the case. Morespecifically the invention aims to provide a key case of integralconstruction formed of resilient flexible and elastic material such asrubber, wherein the only openings into the key-receiving chamber areelongated slots in the ends of the case whereby in inserting or removinga key from the case one of the slots is distended by the passagetherethrough of the key head.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a key case of integralconstruction means on the inside surfaces of the walls of the case forengaging the head of a key in the chamber when the sides of the case arepinched together for the purpose of preventing retraction of the keyshank through the key-projecting slot in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a key case whichis simple in design and construction and which is relatively inexpensiveto manufacture. Other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of a key caseembodying the same, which is made in connection with the accompanyingdrawing wherein like parts throughout the several views are indicated bythe same numerals of reference.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section and with part broken away of amolded key case embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view partly in section and with part removed of thekey case shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail takensubstantially on the line 3 3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail partly in section showing the manner inwhich the key is inserted or withdrawn from the key-receiving chamber ofthe case;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View somewhat diagrammatic showing themanner in which the key case may be deformed to release one only of apair of keys contained in the case for projection by gravity through oneof the end slots of the case; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view corresponding to a showing of the caseand the keys in Fig. 5.

Although the key case of the present invention may be made byconventional processes such as dipping and the like, it is preferred tomake the cases by molding since molding results in accurate dimensionsand also permits the use of surface design and ornamentation.

The case comprises a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel side wallsl and 2 of generally ovate form which are connected along their sideedges by edge walls 3 and 4. The edge walls are preferably thinner thanthe side walls as shown in Fig. 3 and include end portions 5 which curvetoward one another in following the curvature of the marginal edgeportions of the side walls I and 2 to which the edge walls areintegrally connected.

At the ends of the case ends 6 of the edge walls 3 and i are spaced fromone another to provide slots 'I between the extreme end portions of theside walls l and 2 and through which the shanks of keys are projectedfor use.

A 4Thus the case provided by the present invention is in the generalform of an elastic or resilient rubber tube open at both ends, therebeing edge wall means having end portions curved or directed toward oneanother to provide restricted openings that constitute the sole openingsthrough which keys may be inserted into or withdrawn from thekey-receiving chamber indicated at 8.

The width of the key chamber 8 is greater than the width of the head ofthe key or keys to be accommodated in the chamber while the length ofthe slots l is less than the width of such key heads. Accordingly, toinsert or withdraw a key head into or out of the chamber 8 one of theslots 'l must be distended or stretched sufficiently to pass the head ofthe key. As shown in Fig. 4, when a conventional type of key is beinginserted into the chamber 8 one edge of the key head is first insertedand then by rotating the key head so that the key shank moves from rightto left as viewed in Fig. 4, the head of the key is drawn into the keychamber 8, this operation being accompanied by distention or stretchingof the key case around the opening or slot l. If desired, the wallportions of the key case may be thickened around the slot openings 1 toreinforce the same against splitting or cracking.

While the length of each of the key projecting slots l is less than thewidth of the heads of keys to be accommodated, it is greater than thewidth of the key shanks so that the Shanks are freely movable throughthe slots l without stretching or distention of the material of the casearound ,the slot openings, This feature is extremely important sincecontinued stretching or distention of the rubber around the slotopenings would be deleterious and tend to crack or split the rubber.Therefore, while the occasional stretching or distention of the keyCase, required for occasional inserting or removing a key therefrom, isnot likely to harm the key case, the present invention provides anarrangement wherein during normal use of the keys in the case little orno stretching or distention of the rubber is required.

Cases of the character contemplated herein are extremely useful forhandling a pair of frequently used keys, such for example as keys K-land K-Z shown in Figs. 5 and 6. rlhe keys are inserted into the chamberS so that the shanks thereof are directed or pointed in oppositedirections when the key case is held with one of the slots 'I directeddownwardly in accordance with the disclosure in my co-pendingapplication identied above. and as shown in Fig. 5 hereof the outwardbowing of the side walls l and 2 as shown in Fig. 6 releases key K-l,the shank of which is directed downwardly to drop so that the shank isprojected through the lowermost slot l, the head of the key engaging theinside of the curved portions 5 of the edge walls 3 and i thus limitingthe projecting or dropping movement of the key. Preferably the curvatureof the portions 5 of the edge walls is such that the head of the keyengages the walls at points spaced from the extreme ends 6, as shown bybroken lines in Fig. 5. Accordingly, pressure of the metal of the keyagainst the portions of the case dening the slots 'l is minimized sothat the cracking or splitting of the case around the slots l isavoided.

It is to be noted in projecting one of the keys in the manner shown inFig. 5, key K--Z is retained within the chamber 8 since the head thereofis larger than the downwardly directed slot l, and while the narrowshank of key K-I drops by gravity through the slot key K-2 is retainedwithin the chamber by engagement of the head thereof with the curvedportion or portions 5 of the edge walls at the lowermost end of the keycase. However, key K-Z may be projected by upending or reversing the keycase so that the key projecting slot at the other end of the key case islowermost andkey K-2 drops through su cl1.75

slot by gravity when the side walls are bowed outwardly. Although indescribing the projecting of the keys it has been explained that theside walls are bowed outwardly to release the keys, it is obvious thatthe keys can be pushed or drawn out.

In using one of the keys contained in the case of the present inventionit is not necessary to withdraw the head of the key from the chamber 8,rather the key is used when the shank thereof is projected as shown bykey K-I in Fig. 5. Thus the present key case forms a convenient meansfor gripping the key head to place a key in a key hole and for turningor otherwise manipulating the lock. By pinching together the portions ofthe side walls I and 2 overlying the head of the projected key africtional grip is maintained on such key head, preventing the key frommoving into the chamber 8. So that such grip may be augmented, thepresent invention contemplates the use of integral, relatively smallprotuberances 9 formed on the inside surface of the side walls l and 2.These protuberances are arranged at different regions so that theyfrictionally engage the side surfaces of key heads in the container whenthe side walls are pinched together, and some of the protuberances mayextend over or across the top or end edge of the key head to engage thesame and thereby have an interlocking relationship with the key head`which effectively resists retraction of the key shank in use. It ispreferred that the protuberances 9 be formed in a group or groups on theinside surfaces of both of the side walls l and 2, since the key case ofthe present invention, when used with a plurality of keys, should havepositive engagement with the head of the projected key. Thus the gri-psor protuberances are disposed in confronting relation to one another.

Furthermore, the protuberances 9 are formed on the portion or portionsof the side walls located approximately midway between the edge walls 3and 4 and so that all of the protuberances are spaced from the edgewalls. This arrangement allows all of the protuberances in the severalgroups thereof to be drawn away from the side surfaces of the keys whenthe side walls of the key case are bowed outwardly as shown in Fig, 6.For example, it has been found satisfactory if` the width of each regionover which the protuberances 9 are distributed is of the order of thelength of the key projecting slot 1. As can be seen from an inspectionof Figs. 1 and 3, the outermost protuberances are spaced sufficientlyfar from the edge walls 3 and 4 so that when the side walls are bowedAoutwardly, the edges of the key heads have sufiicient clearance alongthe edge walls to insure that they can move freely in projecting orretracting the key Shanks. Whereas, if the protuberances were disposedclosely adjacent the edge walls, they lwouldbe insufficiently drawnapart, even upon outward bowing of the side walls, and wouldfrictionally engage and impede the movement ofthe key heads in the keychamber.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the length of the chamber 8 of the keyl caseis slightly greater than the length of the keys to be accommodated inthe case. Accordingly, portionsof the contained keys are at alltimesmaintainedin overlapped relation to one another. (See in this connectionhow the heads ,ofkeysK-I and K-2 are in side by side Vrelationship inFig. 6.) Thus, each of the keys, when apair isinserted in the case,isalways, disposed either against the.V side wall i or the side wall 2,and in normal use the positions of the keys do not become interchanged.It is, therefore, desirable to provide a means for distinguishing thetwo ends of the key case so that the user may know which end of the casethe desired key is to be projected through. For example, means such asan integral button or knob Ii) may be formed on the outside of one ofthe side walls and adjacent one end of the case so that the user, byfeeling such knob or button, can distinguish the ends of the case.

Referring to Fig. 3, it is to be noted that the edge walls are of curvedform and are connected to the side walls I and 2 in such manner thatpressure applied to the edge walls inherently tends to cause outwardbowing of the side walls. The ovate shape of the case in which the spanacross the end portions of the side walls which are connected by theedge walls is less at the ends of the case than at the center thereof,causes the central portions of the side walls to bow outwardly more thanthe end portions, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the case inherently promotesrelease of the keys by ample separation of the side walls while yet theShanks may be projected through one of the slots without appreciablyshortening the length of the slots.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways,numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitutionof parts and changes in construction being resorted to as desired, itbeing understood that the embodiments shown in the drawing and describedabove are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustrationwithout intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specificdetails disclosed.

What I claim is:

l. A thin at key case comprising a pair of generally flat side walls ofgenerally ovate form disposed in spaced confronting relation to oneanother and having curved edge portions at the ends of the case, a pairof edge walls extending between and connecting the edges of the sidewalls along the side edges of the case to provide between the side wallsa key receiving chamber having a length and a width each greater thanthe corresponding dimensions of a key to be accommodated therein, saidedge walls including portions durved toward ione another at both ends ofthe case along said curved edge portions of the side walls and said edgewalls being discontinuous across the case ends to provide slots at theopposite ends of the case each having a length greater than the width ofthe shank portions of keys to be accommodated in the oase and less thanthe width of the heads of such keys, said slots constituting the soleopenings into the chamber, the side and edge walls being integrallyformed of resilient and elastic shape retaining rubber compositionwhereby the heads of keys can be inserted into and withdrawn from thechamber only upon enlarging one of said slots by stretching the walls ofthe case and whereby a pair of keys can be inserted into the chamberwith their Shanks extending in opposite directions for optionalprojection of the shank of one key through the slot at one end of thecase and optional projection of the shank of the other key through theslot at the other end of the case, the movement of each key inprojecting the shank thereof being limited by engagement between thehead of such key and the inside of the curved portions of the edge wallsat points spaced from the slots, and a plurality of integral, relativelysmall protuberances formed on the inside surface of at least one of theside walls, said protuberances being spaced from one another andengageable with a key head in the chamber at spaced portions of thesurface of the key head or behind the top edge of the key head when theside walls are pinched together to prevent retraction of the projectedkey shank in use.

2. A key case comprising integral side walls and edge walls of resilientshape retaining deformable composition defining a single flat chamber ofgreater length and width than the co-rresponding dimensions of keys tobe accommodated in the case, the edge walls converging toward oneanother at both ends of the case and being discontinuous across thecentral portions of the case ends to provide slots which are of lesslength than the width of the chamber but of sufcient width to freelypass the shank of a key, the thickness of said chamber between the sideWalls and in the portions thereof adjacent the edge walls being at leastsubstantially as great as in the central portion of the chamber so thatwhen the side walls are bowed outwardly by pressure applied along theedge walls to release a key to drop by gravity for projecting the shankof the key through one of said slots, the side walls are sufficientlyfar apart at the edge walls to prevent binding of the head of thedropping key between the marginal portions of the side walls, and theconverging edge Walls engage the end of a dropping key to direct thesame toward slot through which the shank is to be projected.

3. A key case comprising integral side walls and edge walls of resilientshape retaining deformable composition dening a single at chamber ofgreater length and width than the corresponding dimensions of keys to beaccommodated in the case, the edge walls converging toward one anotherat both ends of the case and being discontinuous across the centralportions of the case ends to provide slots which are of less length thanthe width of the chamber but of sufcient width to freely pass the shankof a key, the thickness of said chamber between the side walls and inthe portions thereof adjacent the edge walls being at leastsubstantially as great as in the central portion of the chamber so thatwhen the side walls are bowed outwardly by pressure applied along theedge walls to release a key to drop by gravity for projecting the shankof the key through one of said slots, the side walls are sufficientlyfar apart at the edge walls to prevent binding of the head of thedropping key between the marginal portions of the side walls, and theconverging edge walls engage the end of a dropping key to direct thesame toward slot through which the shank is to be projected, the sidesof the slots being substantially flush with the inside surfaces of theside walls to provide smooth and substantially unobstructed continuoussurfaces for guiding the end of the dropping key therethrough.

BENJAMIN STILLER.

